From left, former Lakers players Jamaal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Byron Scott, Magic Johnson and current General Manager Mitch Kupchak pose for pictures during a Tuesday press conference that introduced Scott as the new Lakers coach. How long will it take the Lakers to return to glory? “I don't see this as a long process,” Scott says. , ISAAC ARJONILLA, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

EL SEGUNDO – As one face from the past emerged into the Lakers present, so too did a few more. Out of a side door at the team’s El Segundo practice facility strolled Magic Johnson, Jamaal Wilkes and Kareem Abdul-Jabaar.

“Baby B!” Johnson exclaimed to the man sitting at the table in front of him.

Later, while posing for pictures with his arm around new Lakers coach Byron Scott, his former teammate, Johnson said, “Showtime is back, baby.”

Somewhere, Mike D’Antoni was maybe rolling his eyes, less than two years removed from a news conference of his own where he was introduced as the Lakers coach, and said, “We would love to be able to play Showtime basketball.”

D’Antoni’s tenure was a disaster, often criticized by Johnson and punctuated by an injury-filled 27-55 campaign last season, the worst record since the team moved from Minneapolis. Last year, the Lakers ranked third from the bottom of the NBA in defense.

And so while the Lakers leaned on Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar and Wilkes at Tuesday’s introductory news conference to hammer home the point that Scott is part of the family, the Lakers new head man drove home a point of his own. It was one that resonated with the Lakers’ front office during several interviews and, no doubt, with a fan base that clamored for grittier efforts last season.

His Lakers will not try to simply outscore their opponents, the fundamental tenet of the D’Antoni school. They will be known for their defense, Scott said.

In Scott’s mind, that was the true defining characteristic of the Showtime-era Lakers, whom he helped to three NBA titles in the ’80s.

“The first thing Magic taught me when I got in this league is that we win championships by defending every single night,” said Scott, who was drafted No. 4 overall in 1983 by the Clippers but traded to the Lakers for Norm Nixon. “That’s the one thing we can control.”

While talk of championships seems wildly premature for a team whose biggest offseason splash was plucking Carlos Boozer off waivers, Scott said the Lakers’ return to prominence will not take as long as most doubters expect.

“We don’t – at least I don’t – see this as a long process,” Scott said. “This is Los Angeles. This is still one of the best organizations in all of sports. You still got a ton of people that would love to play for this organization.”

Despite his first day on the job being defined by nostalgia and kind words, Scott did not conceal his well-known toughness, which was instilled early and developed by former Lakers coach Pat Riley.

“If you’re not out there and you’re not playing defense the way I think you’re capable of playing, or the way we should play defense,” Scott said, “then I’m going to have to find other guys that will.”

When he coached the New Jersey Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003, his teams ranked No. 1 in points allowed per 100 possessions. The results have not always been so affirming, however. In his three seasons coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers, 2010-13, none of his teams ranked higher than 26th.

Scott, however, was complimentary of the team General Manager Mitch Kupchak and Jim Buss assembled before his hiring, even though the Lakers missed out on the top names available in the class of free agents.

“I thought they did a great job of putting this roster together,” said Scott, who spoke highly of additions Jeremy Lin and rookie Julius Randle.

Easing Scott’s transition back to the wayward franchise will be the presence of Kobe Bryant, who as a rookie in 1996-97 was mentored by Scott, playing in his final season.

“We text each other a lot during the season and obviously during the offseason,” Scott said. “I’m looking forward to coaching Kobe. I know his drive and I know his will and his determination. I think we’re on the same page as far as how we think about this game and how it should be played.”

The Lakers hired Scott nearly three months after D’Antoni abruptly resigned on April 30, when they initiated an exhaustive process. In addition to Scott, veteran coaches including Lionel Hollins, Alvin Gentry, Mike Dunleavy and Kurt Rambis were interviewed.

“Although we went through a long process where we interviewed a lot of candidates,” said Kupchak, who was another of Scott’s Laker teammates from 1983-86, “we felt early on that Byron was the leader and the right choice from the beginning.”

The message was echoed loudly by Scott’s other former teammates.

“It’s great that L.A. takes care of its own like this,” Abdul-Jabbar said, “and it’s wonderful to see Byron back here. His confidence and leadership and knowledge of the game will definitely benefit this team. And hopefully this is a point where things start to turn around.

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